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My mom's tomboy style

My mom recently sent me some old family photos of our cousins, summer vacations, all sorts of things—but what stood out most was my mom's incredible style. She wore Wellington boots, flannel shirts and my dad's sweaters, and her pieces were loose and relaxed. Yet through her tomboyish style, she still exuded grace and femininity. I'm so inspired by these beautiful photos and am going to try to shop my closet to see if I can create some similar outfits. What was your mom's style like?P.S. Having babies in Paris, and my mom on her wedding day.

My mom always wore a lot of dresses! For a while she even sewed matching mother & daughter! A little bit Little House on the Prairie. :) I have her "vintage" college track uniform that I wear running occasionally.

Awesome! She is SO stylish. I also find so inspiring my mum's pics from the old days. Do you know if she still keeps some of her clothes from that time? I confess that I wore some of my mum's clothes from when she was younger (Yeap, my mum doesn't like to throw away things, which sometimes it's a blessing..-sometimes!) Great post!

When I was young, I remember looking at my mom and thinking how awesome she was but I also wanted her to dress up MORE, wear MORE make-up, etc.

As I get older myself, I now look at pictures of her and look at her now and really admire her confidence NOT to spend too much time fussing over clothes or beauty products. I also recognize that she was (and still is) very thoughtful in her choices. She knew what worked for her and wore THAT. She would pick the best bag she could afford and rock it until it was time to replace it.

It took ME years to recognize how awesome that is but I'm on my way! Moms are the best!

It's amazing how much you look like your mother, and how much Toby looks like you as a baby!! What a sweet, thoughtful post--I love looking at pictures of my parents at my age. Makes me realize how they're still "people"--and not just my parents.

I love it! You're mom has such great taste! She reminds me of my mom who used to wear cords, plaid, cashmere, moccasins, camel hair ponchos... And, yes, I raided her closet for all of her vintage clothes. To this day, I base my style after my moms.

Your mother really did have great fashion sense! Out of us four girls, I'm the one who most resembles our mom and my style is probably the closest to what hers was when she was younger. I even ended up (unknowingly) getting glasses that looked very similar to ones she had had. I thought they were absolutely awesome and she and my dad just laughed. My sisters and I all agree though: our Maman was (and is) quite stunning. I love looking back at old pictures of her.

Such a cute post! My mom was (and still is) very preppy, but also very stylish. She looks pulled together and current, but always has something on that's so "her." She had this sweater, and I'll always remember it- http://princessdianabookboutique.wordpress.com/2011/12/01/knitwear-of-choice-the-black-sheep-sweater-is-vintage-1980s-cool/

Your Mom is so beautiful and stylish. I agree, she has great style. My Mom was not so stylish. But, my Grandmother is and was. She is a great follower of fashion and never left her house without a great dress or skirt suit, stockings with heels, colorful scarf, and a bright lipstick. I loved watching her get out her compact and reapply her lipstick. So glamorous!

Wow, your mom is crazy amounts of beautiful, and she has amazing style. Thanks for sharing such lovely, warm, and intimate photos! My mom is from the Caribbean, and her style is definitely rooted in that, but she is always put together. Bright colors, lots of sparkle, hair always done, simple makeup. Nothing too structured, everything she wears has movement to it. She never dresses her age, she is in her 60's, and still has no problem shopping the Juniors department, and she pulls it off beautifully!

These are such beautiful images. These are the kind of photographs (old family photos) that inspired me to become a photographer. Really amazing. I am stunned at how much I can see Toby in you when you were his age. WOW. Thanks for sharing such intimate family snippets. PS- your mom is stunning.

These are such sweet pictures- I love that they are snippets of both special moments and every day life. As a soon-to-be first time momma, the inspiration on realistic but unique mom-style is wonderful. Thanks for posting!

Great photos. Though I just laughed & cringed (simultaneously) when I read "like an old film from the 70s." Ha! I grew up wearing similar (with some flower child stuff thrown in for good measure). the reason this all looks so familiar & stylish is that it's classic. Plus, Joanna's mother is beautiful.

The "natural" look so many of us had as teenagers/young adults is so much prettier (to me) than the hard-edged, over-groomed stuff of today. I don't think I'm alone in this either from looking at Pinterest boards. I would never have thought, even 5 yrs ago, that so many younger women would aspire to what we took for granted. Thanks! xo/Susan

growing up, my mom was always wearing lace blouses with her bra peeking out and long, tailored skirts and slacks (most of which she would sew herself). but i grew up very tomboyish and still lean towards comfortable, masculine details in my style choices. my mom is turning 60 next year and she still wears more see through clothing and higher heels than i do at 29.

I swear, my mom has long been my go-to style guru. She inherited a lot of my grandmother's Swedish sensibilities and coupled it with her Palm Springs upbringing for an end result that's always flawless. I'd say it's kind of effortless cool, though she'd probably tell you she spends a LOT of time achieving that effortlessness!!

Oh wow what great photos! And what a good looking family, makes me think of the Kennedys a wee bit. Your right such great style. And the top one reminds of that famous picture of Jane Goodall when she was in her 20's. I have a great picture of parents celebrating the new year in 1970!! I may post it soon. They look very Mad Men!

you have your mom's style already. it's more than just wardrobe. It's the way you hold your son, like she held you. It's the way you look at Toby the way she looked at you. It's your mannerism. It's the way you carry yourself and perch your head.

i just love the last two photos--everything about them! I agree that the photos are wonderfully "caught in the moment", and her style in the last two is so casual and around the house.. yet still stylish.

I love all the candid photos. I feel like I am a deer in headlights smiling in every photo I've ever taken, but I love the "sneak peek" feel of these candid shots! Gorgeous. I was born in the wrong decade...

Your Mom is one fashionable, beautiful lady! :) After she got married, my Mom used to wear a signature big, round Bindi...and she had big eyes...so when she was angry, one look from her was enough to convey that. :)

my mum wore indigo denim flares with a nice wool sweater and a low wedge tan lace up. her hair is curly and she always wore it short. and she looked amazing in short shorts on the beach - alas i have not inherited her legginess. x

My mom's style was more of a "I take what I get" - in the GDR there wasn't much of a choice and much time to shop for an average income woman with a full time job and two kids. Regardless there are still some photos of my mama where she looks soooo similar to Berlin hipsters right now with her floral polyester tops and high waisted pants, it's stunning! So in my book, she's a real trend-setter. :-)

It's always fun looking at old photos from this era- and I love that unique fuzzy quality to them that only film can give :)

My mom had a great old pair of bellbottom overalls that I used to wear in middle school. Unfortunately for the most part, I used to be embarrassed by her clothes- and only appreciate them now, once she's gotten rid of most of them!

That first picture? I could have sworn that was you!My mom had awesome style when she was in high school, first got married and when my brother and I were little. Really, she has only started dressing "older" in the past 10 years. She still isn't old though, she just says she is age appropriate. :)

Absolutely gorgeous photos! Your mom is beautiful. I love looking through old photos of my mom as well. Her style was impeccable and I always wish she had kept those clothes so I could wear them now! I should take your suggestion and try to shop my closet to recreate them.

Um is it weird if I want to Pin these photos of your mom and use them for style inspiration? These are amazing and I know just what you mean about her style. Also, can we talk about that hair flip? These are great!

Hi JoannaI love how you put your personal life on the blog and I've been wondering why you never talked about your parents break up/divorce. Since it's a very personal thing, speacially for your parents, maybe you could say how it felt from your point of view, etc. You're so good talking about life events and I think it's a great topíc. Anyway, just a suggestion.

I just noticed the QEII photo...I was on that boat as a baby too, when my family was moving back from Paris. I think you should definitely try to emulate that style, it's classic and emphasizes your mom's natural beauty

Looking at the pictures of you as a baby, I realized how much Toby looks like you! Your mum is beautiful! My own mum passed away when I was young, so one of the only ways I have to remember her is to look at pictures of her back in the 80s. She had a very classic style. :)

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I love the tomboy look-- especially since it is so comfortable. My kids also tend to go for the tomboy look. We found some great summer clothes at Burlington Coat Factory that had that feminine touch with a tomboy appeal. We got great prices on some designer brand name clothes.

In the 70s it wasn't considered tomboyish for a girl to wear flannel shirts just like your Mom did. Most girls had at least one plaid, flannel shirt. I knew a couple of girls back then who wore flannel most days and they were not thought of as a tomboy. I loved that look. Too bad women have to abandon it as they get older.

very nice,and reminds me of how my mom was before she took up a different profession.In her past work,she was often the only woman meeting up,managing,and discussing with male coworkers at her level.She wore a suit and tie,and when she came home,she lounged in baggy jeans and loose sweaters.Even so,like these pics,it's not what some women wear at times.It is how you still can not mistake anything masculine about them in spite of.

Wow! Your mother is truly gorgeous! Her simple style was perfect. Definitely plan on thrifting/shopping my and my fiances closet asap to see what I can come up with! I love looking through old photos. My mom was very Marsha Brady in shorter shorts and lots of loose dresses :) I really wish she had saved more of her old clothes!